Genetic marker identifies asthma risk

Children with a specific gene are up to 70 per cent more likely to develop asthma, according to new research.

Scientists from the University of Michigan have published findings in today's Nature journal which show that the ORMDL3 gene, located on chromosome 17, is strongly associated with the respiratory disease.

They analysed over 2,000 children from Germany and over 3,000 adults in the UK during their allergy and asthma research, analysing mutations in DNA building blocks to identify the responsible gene.

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Professor Goncalo Abecasis, who led the study, said that although asthma is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors it is hoped the identification of a specific genetic marker could lead to new therapies for the disease.

"I think eventually it will lead to new therapies because it points to a specific biological molecular pathway," he commented.

"Once we understand the biology and we know the players, it's possible to target with specific drugs."

Approximately one in seven children in the UK develop asthma, making it the commonest chronic disease of childhood.

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